Apple Store inside the Towson Town Center shopping mall in Baltimore, MD. September 5, 2020. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Apple Inc. and Intel Corp. are each making one last-ditch, COVID-based attempt to stop upcoming patent infringement trials from going forward in the Eastern and Western districts of Texas, respectively.

The tech companies argue that with a vaccine roll-out now under way—and new, more transmissible COVID variants spreading around the country—it would be prudent to hold off on trial until the spring or summer.